A consortium led by Apple, Research in Motion and Microsoft have snatched up Nortel’s 6,000 patents for $4.5 billion in an auction that could lead to further trouble for Google, who was outbid for the trove of intellectual property.

So now the winners, who also included Sony, EMC and Ericsson, have access to a cluster of patents that cover a wide spectrum of communications and Internet services, from wireless and 4G to data networking, semiconductors and social networking. RIM came forward and said it paid $770 million for its share of the bid while Ericsson has said it contributed $340 million. Nortel said the deal must still pass Canadian and U.S. Court approval, which will occur at a joint hearing scheduled for July 11.

The deal represents a big set back for Google, which initially pursued the patents and won a stalking horse bid for the IP, setting the low bar on the auction at $900 million. The company had said at the time that while it was looking to enact long-term patent reform, it was bidding to shore up its smaller patent portfolio and provide a disincentive for others to sue the search giant.

The mobile industry is currently in a state of patent warfare, perhaps best likened to the Cold War strategy of building up an arsenal so huge that to attack it assures mutual destruction. In this game, Google’s lackluster patent portfolio makes it a small player whose “do no evil” motto makes it seem naive at best and weak at worst.

Competitors and other companies have sought to capitalize on Google’s weaker IP position. Oracle has filed a copyright and patent infringement case against Google for its use of Java in the Android operating system. Other mobile competitors, notably Apple, have gone after Android manufacturers for their use of disputed IP. Microsoft this week announced three Android manufacturers have agreed to pay patent licensing fees for their use of Android.

Getting a hold of Nortel’s patents would have provided more cover for Google and its partners. And it would have signaled how robust a defense Google was prepared to mount on behalf of Android and Chrome and other products. But now, if the auction proceeds, Google could face even more of a squeeze without the cache of patents it can offer for cross-licensing deals. Some like IP expert Florian Mueller have already called Android a “suit magnet” and that moniker might be even more apt now. And Google’s promise of a free operating system continues to get undermined by the fact that more and more manufacturers now feel the need to strike licensing agreements.

Google said in a statement to Bloomberg: “This outcome is disappointing for anyone who believes that open innovation benefits users and promotes creativity and competition. We will keep working to reduce the current flood of patent litigation that hurts both innovators and consumers.”

Google is aware that we’re in an era of patent wars as competing companies look to establish their ground in the exploding mobile space. Apple’s recent deal with Nokia showed that the environment is heating up and Nokia is likely out for more targets after extracting money from Apple. Google can hope for patent reform and that may eventually come. But for now, it needs more muscle and it lost out on a big chance to beef up in the Nortel auction.

Related content from GigaOM Pro (subscription req’d):

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Batteries are decidedly evil. My desk is littered with gear that requires them, and I’d be at a loss to watch movies, control my computer and television, and use many of my Mac peripherals without them. So how can you create a plan that will ensure you’re always ready when you need some juice?

I first thought I could get by using just my Apple battery charger and the batteries that come with it, but that proved woefully inadequate. For one thing, the Apple charger is quite particular about its charging, and often you’ll come back to find a flashing amber light, indicating that the charge wasn’t successful for some reason. For another, those Apple batteries don’t keep their charge long, so there’s no use preparing backups.

So to ensure my Apple Wireless Keyboards, Trackpads, Mighty Mice and third-party peripherals always have power at the ready, I’ve created the following three-point plan:

1. Too many batteries is impossible

I always seem to think I have enough batteries to satisfy all my needs, and then I end up needing more. Obviously, don’t go crazy, but always try to have at least four more batteries on hand than you have actual need of for devices. I’m primarily talking about rechargeable, NiMH batteries, but it never hurts to have a supply of alkalines for backup, too, in case you get caught between charging cycles.

2. Low self-discharge is your best friend

People who may have ditched rechargeable batteries years ago because of the headaches of cycling, battery memory, and batteries that rapidly lose charge have a good reason to come back. Low self-discharge batteries are now available, which can retain up to 85 percent of their charge for up to a year. They also often come pre-charged, so you can use them right away, and newer batteries don’t have the same problem with charge memory as their predecessors.

My personal recommendation for good low self-discharge batteries are the Powerex Imedion variety. They carry a high-capacity compared to most (2400mah) and should be longer-lasting in digital devices like cameras and computer peripherals.

3. Two chargers is better than one

Getting a good battery charger will always help you keep thing properly powered up. Again, Powerex is a good, dependable brand in my experience. Their chargers are a little more expensive than most, but they provide a wealth of customizable options so that you can extend the life of your batteries and save money in the long run. The WizardOne is a good place to start, providing four charging slots for either AA or AAA NiMH batteries, with a backlit panel that lets you select charge/discharge rates and perform advanced tasks like complete battery cycling and break-ins for new batteries.

But in addition to a good charger, I also have a bad one. The Duracell 15 Minute Charger actually does what it claims to, but it makes a lot of noise and gets quite hot. Note, however, that frequent use will degrade the quality and life of your batteries (hence the “bad” descriptor), which is why I use the Duracell for emergencies only (like when my keyboard dies and I’m on a tight deadline).

Batteries are probably the biggest limiting factor when it comes to the enjoyment of consumer electronics, which is why having a good battery plan in place is crucial for gadget-lovers. Now that I’ve shared mine, do you have any other suggestions to add?

Related content from GigaOM Pro (subscription req’d):

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A year and change after its launch, Apple’s iPad has established itself as both the progenitor and dominant entity in a new category of device: tablets. A large part of its success has undeniably been down to the enthusiasm shown by developers, who have recently crossed the notable marker of producing 100,000 applications compatible with the device. As is true of the vast app selection on the iPhone, quantity doesn’t guarantee quality, but the abundance of software available for the iPad at least offers a better chance of finding some wheat in amongst the chaff. And as to its competitors, here’s hoping Ice Cream Sandwich and Windows 8 get here before this Apple juggernaut crosses the million mark, eh?

iPad passes the 100,000 apps milestone, rest of the tablet world looks on in disbelief originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Jul 2011 03:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Thursday is Social Media Day, so in honor of that, I’d like to offer a few tips about making your iPhone a more social device. It’d be easy to just say “register as a developer and install iOS 5,” since that brings Twitter integration, but here are some options that don’t cost $99 and involve using pre-release software on your primary device.

1. Setup Facebook and Flickr albums in iPhoto

This is actually a tip for your Mac, but it makes it much easier to share photos to Facebook and Flickr if you set up Events in iPhoto ’11 that you can dump content to in bulk. Using uploading apps on the iPhone itself usually works best if you’re only doing one photo at a time, and if you’re on vacation, that can get annoying very fast. Connecting your social accounts in iPhoto will make it much easier to create organized albums on Facebook and Flicker with only a couple of clicks.

To set up your services, just go to iPhoto’s Preferences and click on Accounts:

2. Add bookmarklets to mobile Safari for social sharing

Soon you’ll be able to tweet right from within Safari using the native iOS share button, but for now, tweeting links while browsing on a mobile device can be a frustrating procedure if you’re using a standard copy/paste method. Instead, you can use bookmarklets (which are basically bookmarks that perform a function) in mobile Safari to share on Twitter, or on Facebook and Tumblr, too. Check out those, and many other useful bookmarklets, complete with full instructions, over at Digital Inspiration.

3. Get all the primary apps

The iPhone is well-represented when it comes to social network apps. The Facebook app just got a small update to fix bugs and improve performance, and the Tumblr app was updated earlier this week, and now has a completely redesigned interface that’s perfect for mobile sharing. Twitter on the iPhone is a solid client, but there are many third-party options available, too, like the uniquely designed Tweetbot. There’s also a Flickr app , and of course Instagram, which is quickly becoming the default network for sharing pictures on an iPhone. You’d be surprised at how much more likely you are to use these services just by having their native apps on your device.

4. See content recommendations from Facebook in Safari

Want so see some content reading and viewing selections from your Facebook friends without ever leaving your browser? The Recommend browser extension (really a bookmarklet like those described above) by Bob Hitching will let you call up a window that shows you what people in your network on Facebook are recommending most. It can be a little hit or miss, but it does surface some interesting content.

5. Use cross-service sharing apps

You can use Dropico, a service that provides one-stop shopping for photo sharing across networks like Facebook, Flickr, Photobucket, Picasa, Twitter and Tumblr, to cut down considerably on the time it takes to participate in multiple networks, and even apply effects prior to sharing. Likewise, Gowalla can check-in to multiple location-based networks, including Foursquare, Facebook Places and Gowalla itself, all through one app.

iOS 5 will really up the game for iPhone social sharing, and it looks like Google+ might help as well, although initial reaction appears to be split, likely because of Google’s spotty track record with social services (remember Wave?). But if you want your device to be a better tool for engaging with others, there’s no reason to wait when so many choice tools are available right now.

Related content from GigaOM Pro (subscription req’d):

• Implications of Apple’s Twitter integration
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Does Gmail’s current look seem chaotic and claustrophobic to you? Are you overwhelmed by the myriad mailing options, labels, and chat windows? We aren’t either, but apparently Google sees things differently, and has an interface overhaul planned that’ll simplify things in your webmail world. It looks like the spacious and simple design language from Google + will carry over to all the web services proffered by the gang in Mountain View. For now, it’s available as a couple of simplistic skins to be tried on in the Themes tab of your Gmail settings, with more permanent changes rolling out in the coming months. Google Calendar is slated for a stripped-down wardrobe in the next few days as well, with El Goog promising more cosmetic and functional changes for both later this summer. In the meantime, the company’s looking for feedback on its new interface so it can fix any issues folks find. We want your opinions, too, so tell us what you think of Google’s new threads in the comments below.

Google says less is more: Gmail and Google Calendar to sport a more spartan look originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Jun 2011 21:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Merc fans out there now have yet another reason to be curious. We recently got a sneak view of the new hatchback 2012 Mercedes B-Class – that too with less wraps. The smart entry level small car model looks ready to hit the roads. From the spy pictures we chanced upon, the car seems to be spacious in the rear. That could mean there is added rear seat legroom providing additional comfort.

The engine specs of this Mercedes baby say that the options include five petrols and four diesels. The petrol power trains are expected to produce 109 PS (80 kW / 108 bhp) to 204 PS (150 kW / 201 bhp), while the diesel counterparts will produce 122 PS (90 kW / 120 bhp) to 204 PS (150 kW / 201 bhp).

The model comes with a two bar grille, LED indicators, a tailgate-mounted spoiler and an upward sweeping shoulder line. Expect this remodeled B-Class on road by end of 2011 or by the dawn of 2012.

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Apple has just passed the 100,000 mark for apps available that are tailored specifically for the iPad, according to the App Store itself. That’s up from 50,000 at the end of 2010, and 2,000 at the iPad’s launch. By contrast, Google’s Honeycomb Android operating system launched with just 16 optimized apps according to Kevin Tofel, and now has only around 170 according to recent counts, after four months on the market.

To say that this is bad news for Google’s tablet hopes would be an understatement. Apps are increasingly the method of choice for consuming content on mobile devices, and the sale of apps is on pace to become a $38 billion industry by 2015, according to Forrester Research. It’s becoming apparent that app libraries drive tablet sales, not the other way around.

The iPad is winning in this respect by such a wide margin that it’s hard to call it a competition. Even by its own standards, the iPad App Store is doing well. The iPhone App Store took 17 months to reach the 100,000 app milestone. The iPad version achieved it in less time, passing the mark after 15 months. The Android Marketplace was already doing pretty well by the time the iPhone App Store hit 100,000 titles, with 20,000 apps available just a month later in December of 2009.

If the disparity in app libraries is anything to go by, the tablet battle between Android and iOS won’t mirror the one between the two platforms on the smartphone front. As some have suggested, it’s likely that Apple’s dominance in the tablet market will have more in common with the iPod’s performance among portable media players, which is very good for the future of iOS in general.

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If you want to shop for real-world goods, often you’ll give your business to the store that offers the best shopping experience, price and convenience of location being equal. That is exactly how I feel when shopping for apps in the iOS App Store. The iPad version just works better, especially now that it can serve the iPhone directly.

Searching for the best apps in the App Store

With over 300,000 apps to choose from, anything that can help you filter through all the choices is a good thing when shopping for apps. The iPad has more filters available than the iPhone in the App Store, so it’s a much better place to narrow your focus. The ability to filter search results based on category, release date, customer rating, price and device exists only on the iPad version of the App Store, making it a better place to start your quest.

It’s also better to browse the App Store on the iPad because it provides more screen real estate, and you can see more at once. As with reading, the iPad is easier on the eyes, and the experience is generally more pleasant than trying to negotiate the iPhone.

Downloading new purchases

Since you’re purchasing apps for your iPhone on your iPad, you now need to get them installed on your iPhone. There are three basic ways to do this:

1. Sync to your Mac. When you sync your iPad to your Mac you will also transfer the app purchases you’ve made. If you sort your apps by their purchase date, you will see the most recently purchased ones at the top of the list. Just drag and drop your newly purchased apps from this list onto your iPhone in the iTunes sidebar the next time you plug your iPhone in.

2. Manually download from iPhone. When you are in the App Store on your iPhone, go to the Updates tab. You will see a new item at the top of the screen titled Purchased. Here you can find a list of all the App Store purchases you have made. You can even filter the list to show only apps not installed on your iPhone, and you can then install those to your device.

3. Automatically download to iPhone. Take a look at the Store section in your iPhone’s settings app. Here you will see three options to automatically download new purchases for music, apps and books to the device, with an option to allow them to be downloaded over a cellular connection. With this setting turned on, any purchase you make on your iPad will automatically be installed on your iPhone.

Hopefully, with upcoming iOS releases, the subtle differences between each App Store will fade away. Until then, I will be shopping on my iPad when I need something new on my iPhone.

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